Safety ski binding



Jan. 6, 1959 v a. b. MUELLER 2,867,447

SAFETY SKI BINDING Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e-Emmm 1 I L3 IN VEN TOR.

Unit d W t fQlfice r SAFETY SKI BINDING Galfrou D. Mueller, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,200

Claims. (Cl. 280-11.35)

This invention relates to a safety ski bindingand is particularly concerned with a boot or foot releasing,

foot only under certain conditions. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a ski binding having universal action. That is, a binding that is sensitive to release in a horizontal as well as in a vertical plane.

Another object of this invention is to provide .a toe binding that is adjustable to release at the desired pressure and in a horizontal as well as vertical plane. For example, the binding provided by this invention releases the toe of the boot from either side of the ski and from the top thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a heel binding that is adjustable to release at the desired pressure in a vertical plane. For example, the heel binding releases the boot so that it is free to moveupwardly from the top of the ski.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective drawing of a typical ski and the bindings provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the bindings and the ski shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an-enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 3. Fig. '5 is a sectional view "of a portion of the structure taken'as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 77 on Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 6, and Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views illustrating the toe and heel fittings that I have provided and which are applied to the boot of the skier and which cooperate with the binding elements that are applied to the skis in accordance with the invention.

The present invention has to do with releasably securing the boot or foot of the skier to the ski in a manner that is safe in that the boot is automatically released from the ski at a set predetermined pressure. With the binding that I have provided, the mechanisms in the toe and heel of the boot are individually adjustable and can be set torelease at a point which is below the danger point The devices referred to are not universal in action, and, therefore, release the boot or- 2,867,447 Patented Jew .6; 1.95?

so that the skiers person is protected from injury. I The "binding that I have provided may be the same for each ski, right or left, and in the drawings I have illustrated the typical ski X utilizing the binding of the present invention which involves, generally, a toe binding Y and -a heel binding Z. The boot 10 as shown in Fig. l of the drawings is secured to the central portion of the ski X by means of the bindings Y and Z. The bindings Y and Z are held in place on the ski X by means of screw fasteners 11 or the like and a suitable sole plate 12 may be provided to occur between the bindings Y and Z as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The toe binding Y that I have provided involves, generally, a housing A, a horizontal cam B, a vertical cam C, a cam follower D operating the cams B and C, a pressure exerting means E, an adjusting means F and a toe lug G. The pressure exerting means E is a variable means and is under control of the adjusting meansF, and the toe lug G is adapted to be secured to the boot 10 at the toe thereof to project forwardly therefrom and to be engaged with the cams B and C.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, I have illustrated a typical toe lug G that involves a forwardly projecting vertically disposed circular wall engageable with the cam Band a top horizontally disposed fiat wall 26 engageable with the cam C. Suitable laterally extending ears 13 are provided on the lug G and are provided with openings 14 to receive screw fasteners or the like for securing the lug G to the toe of the boot 10.

The housing A of the binding Y may vary widely in size and proportioning, and as shown, is generally trito swing in a vertical plane.

angular in plan configuration having a vertically disposed rear wall 15, forwardly converging side walls 16 and a bottom 17. A cover plate 18 fits over the top of the housing A. As shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, a chamber 19 is established within the walls of the housing for enclosing the mechanism of the binding Y and suitable flanges 10 are provided with openings 21 to receive the fasteners 11 for securing the binding Y to the ski X. In practice, the binding Y is secured to the ski so that the rear wall 15 thereof is at the toe end of the boot 10.

In accordance with the invention, the binding Y is adapted to release the boot 10 under pressure in a horizontal plane. In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, of the drawings, I have illustrated the horizontal cam B that is pivotally carried by the housing A on a vertical axis to swing in a horizontal plane. A vertically disposed pivot pin 22 projects from the bottom 17 and rotatably carries the cam B that projects rearwardly from the housing A to engage with the wall 25 of the lug G. The cam B is'provided with an arcuately shaped concave recess 24 to fit with the lug G, and it will be apparent that -the cam is free to rotate in a horizontal plane to the end that the 1115; is shiftable from side to side and engages in the recess 24.

In accordance with the invention, the binding Y is adapted to release the. boot 10 under pressure in a vertical plane. In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated the vertical cam C that is pivotally carried by the housing on a horizontally disposed axis A horizontally disposed pivot pin 23 is carried by the housing A, preferably by the plate 18 thereof, and rotatably carries the cam C that projects rearwardly from the housing to engage with the wall 26 of the lug G. The cam C is provided with a downwardly faced shoulder 27 engageable with the wall 26 of the lug and it will be apparent that the cam C is free to rotate in a vertical plane to the end that the lug G is shiftable vertically and engages with 'the shoulder 27.

They cams .B and C above described project frorn'the hgusing A to extend from the chamber 19 to the exterior of the housing through slots 28 and 29 respectively that are provided in the walls of the housing.

The cam follower D that I have provided to operate the cams B and C, is shiftable longitudinally of the housing A and is carried in the chamber 19. .As illustrated, the follower D is guided in the chamberf19 and provided with ears 30 that are slidably engaged in guideways 31 so that the follower Dis free to shift -forwardly and rearwardly in the housing. The follower D is characterized by a fiat vertically disposed cam -engaging face 32 that faces rearwardly.

As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the cam B has a pair of follower engaging lobes 34 and 35 and the cam C has a follower engaging lobe '36. llihecam lobes 34,35, and 36 are at the forward sides of the cams and have flat faces 37, 3 8, and 39, respectively, engageable with the follower face 32 to normally position the parts as shown throughout the drawings. ,The lobes 34 and 35 occur one at eachside of the cam B with the faces 37 and 38 joined together at the center of the cam to form a straight line so that with the faces 37 and 38 engaged with the face 32, the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 7. The lobe 36 occurs at the top of the cam C above the pivotal axis :thereof with the face 39 engaged with the face 32 when the :parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 6. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the lateral or upward movement of the lug G will tend to rotate the cams -B or C to cause the follower D to shift forward by action of the lobes 34, 35, and 36 on the follower face 32.

The pressure exerting means E is provided to bias the follower D in order to yieldingly urge the follower into pressure engagement with the lobes of the cams B and C. The means E is preferably a spring means and as shown, involves a compression spring 40 carried on a guide 41 that projects forwardly from the follower D. A suitable spacer 42 establishes the desired initial spacing tension as circumstances require.

The adjusting means F is provided to set the pressure exerting means E and is preferably a simple screw means involving a shiftable abutment 45 in the form of a screw threaded into the housing A at the forward end :thereof. The abutment 45 has a rear end face 46 that acts to stop and position the forward end of the spring 40. The abutment 45 is threaded into an opening 47 in the housing A and has an operator 48 accessible at the exterior of the housing so that it is engageable by the skier to adjust the mechanism to the desired releasing pressure.

The heel binding Z that I have provided involves, generally, a housing A, a vertical cam C, .a cam follower D, operating the cam C, a pressure exerting vmeans E, and adjusting means F, and a heel lug G. The elements, A, C, D, E, F, and G of the hindv.a'ng correspond generally with the elements, A, C, D, E, F, and G, above described in connection with the binding Y. However, since the binding Z is applied :to the opposite end of the boot 10, variations ,31'6 em- :ployed in order to gain the desired features of operation.

In Fig. of the drawings, I have illustrated a typical heel lug G that involves a rearwardly projecting part with 'a horizontally disposed circular wall 226 engageable-with the cam C. The lug G is shown carriedby a band 227 that extends around the rear of the heel of the boot 10, there being ears 213 provided with openings 214 to receive screw fasteners or the like for securing the lug G to the heel of the boot '10. The band 227 is also provided with openings 215 toreceive straps 216 that may be employed to extend over=the top of the boot to hold the boot down (see Fig. 51.). It vl ill be observed that the :straps 216 anchor the lboot 4- and foo of. t skie di ect y attl 19 and att binding mechanism that is secured to the ski.

The housing A of the binding Z has vertically disposed side Walls 116, a bottom 117, and a top 118. The side walls 116 are spaced parallel walls while the bottom 117 is a flat horizontally disposed element supported by the ski X. The top 118 may .be arcuate, as shown, to extend rearwardly and downwardly where it joins with the bottom 117; Int-he preferred form of the invention, the bottom 117 has a forward extension 120 provided with spaced side ears 121 for laterally positioning the heel of the boot 10. .In practice, the binding Z ,issecured to the ski X by the fasteners 11 so that the forward end of the housing A is at 'theheel end -of the boot 10.

In accordance with the invention, the binding 2 is adapted to release the boot 10 under pressure in a vertical plane. In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated the vertical ca'm'C that is pivotally carried by the housing -A' onta horizontal axis to swing lin a'vertie'al plane.- horizontally disposed .pivot pin 123 is carried by the housing A between the side walls116 thereof and rota- 'tably carries the 'cam- C which projects forwardly from the housing A to engage with the wall 2260f the lug G. .The cam C is provided with a forwardly opening recess 127 engageable with the wall 226 of the lug ,6. .It will be apparent that the cam C is free to rotate in avertical plane on a horizontal axis and engagesthecam. The cam C" projects from the open front end of the housing A.

- The cam follower D is provided to operate the earn C and is shiftable longitudinally of the body A and s carried in a chamber 119 within the housing. 'As illustrated, the follower D is rectangular in cross sectional configuration and occupies the chamber 119 to engage with parallel portions of the top and bottom walls thereofto bet-guided thereby. The followerDischaracterized by a flat vertically disposed cam engaging face 132 that facesforwardly and as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cam C has two adjacent lobes -134and 135, each with a flat follower engaging face 137 and 138, re spectively. The lobe 135 is related to the .recess 127,

' or is positioned diametrically oppositethe recess 12'],

to hold the said recess in a down position whenengaged with the follower (as shown) while the lobe 134 iS POSP tioned above the lobe 135 so that when the lobe 134 is engaged by the follower D the recess .127 is man up position. With thefaces 137 and -138 related as shown, there is .a raised portion between the lobes of the ,cam C'that resists movement of the cam between the two positions above referred to. i v I The pressure exerting means E and the adjusting means F may be identical with the means E and F'hereinabove. described.

:In addition to the foregoing elements, the binding .Z may also involve a follower shifting cam '90 and a gnianually operable lever- 91. Thecam 910 is rotatably ,carried between the walls 116 of the housing .and has :a 'lobej92 engageable with a projection 93 .onthe follower L I t at when the cam is rotated, the lobe acts :againstthe projection 93 to shift the follower .I rear- :Wardlyand away from the cam C.. ,A keyed or polygonal opening 94 extends through the cam 90 and the lever 91 is provided with a keyed or polygonalshafti .that extends through the cam so that when thelevfcr is "lifted or depressed as the case maybe, the cam is rotated to shift the follower D. It wine's apparentft'hatfthe shaft '92 may be inserted through the cam 99 from either side thereof in order to provide both right and left hand installations of the lever.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that 'I have provided an extremely simple and reliable ski binding which has universal action in that the boot ltlof the skier is releasable both at the toe and heel thereof and .in

both horizontal and vertical planes. -With the, structure idescril-ierl,--. pressure ofthei boot; and lu gs against: fillet-binding mechanisms does not affect the releasing characteristics thereof. The toe and, heel of the boot are individually releasable at any desired predetermined pressure, depending upon the setting of the pressure exerting means that I have provided. In practice, the cams of the binding Y are tightly engaged by the follower in order to eliminate play. However, the cam of the heel binding may be held spaced from the follower in order to establish the desired amount of play allowing the heel of the boot to be raised slightly from the ski. When it is desired to release the boot or foot from the binding, it is merely necessary to operate the cam 90 so that the cam C is free to rotate. As the lug G leaves the heel binding, the cam C may be left in a position with the lobe 134 engaged with the follower 132 to the end that the recess is in an up position to again receive the lug G when the skier wishes to re-enter the binding. That is, the skier merely steps into the binding by first placing the toe lug G in place and then putting his weight on the heel lug G.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I'd'o not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In combination, a toe binding for releasably securing the toe of a boot to a ski, and including, a toe lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the toe end of the boot, a horizontally disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, and a spring biased follower with a fiat face and operating the cam, said cam having laterally spaced lobes with straight aligned faces engaging said follower face to normally position the recess to retain the toe of the boot in position on the ski, and a heel binding for releasably securing the heel of the boot to the ski and including, a heel lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the heel end of the boot, a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, and a spring biased follower with a flat face engaged with the cam, said cam having a lobe with a face engaging said follower face to normally position the recess to retain the heel of the boot in position on the ski.

2. In combination, a toe binding for releasably securing the toe of a boot to a ski, and including, a toe lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the toe end of the boot, a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, a horizontally disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, each cam having a lobe, and a spring biased follower with a flat face engaged with said lobes to resist turning of the cams, and a heel binding for releasably securing the heel of the boot to the ski and including, a heel lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the heel end of the boot, a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lugand having a lobe, and a spring biased follower with a flat face engaged with said lobe to resist turning of the cam, said lobe being engaged by the follower to normally position the cam to retain the heel of the boot in position on the ski.

3. A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski, including, a lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent one end of the boot, a cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, and a spring biased follower with a flat face and operating the cam, said cam having laterally spaced lobes with straight aligned faces engaging said follower face to normally position the recess to retain the boot in position on theski.

4. A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski, including, a lug projecting from. the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the end of the boot, a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, a horizontally disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, each cam having a lobe, and a spring biased follower with a fiat face engaged with said lobes to resist turning of the cams.

5. A binding for releasably securing a boot to a ski, including, a lug projecting from the boot, a housing carried by the ski adjacent the end of the boot, a vertically disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a horizontal transverse axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, a horizontally disposed cam rotatably carried by the housing on a vertical perpendicular axis and with a recess engaged with the lug, and a spring biased follower with a flat face and operating the cams, each of said cams having lobes engaging said follower face to normally position the cams to retain the boot in position on the ski.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,955 Cubberley Nov. 6, 1951 2,616,714 Cubberley Nov. 4, 1952 2,676,813 Beyl Apr. 27, 1954 2,705,150 Hansen M-ar.'29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 846,997 France June 19, 1939 925,155 France Mar. 24, 1947 1,101,741 France Apr. 27, 1955 17,165 Norway Aug. 25, 1906 241,681 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1946 259,478 Switzerland June 16, 1949 281,158 Switzerland June 3, 1952 

